The horrors of this book provide both an obvious fear but also a deeper, sinister psychological kind (which I’d argue is worse than what looks you in the face). I loved the dynamic of the horrors of the characters’ experience and how they work through the estrangement of a once-familial friendship. The exploration of the relationship between fear, guilt, isolation, and grief through the lens of horror was quite captivating! This may all sound a little vague in regards to what actually occurs, but honestly, anything more would spoil the fun. Please check all trigger warnings before reading, not for those who do not enjoy body/gore horror
The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig, (List Price: $30, Del Rey, 9780593156568, April 2025)
Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina